JP3155176B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector provided with a push-back mechanism for preventing a half-fitted state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, the following connectors have been known as this type of connector. JP-A-4-306575 real-Open No. 5-43484 real-A No. 5-53157 JP-A-5-121121 these, both provided with a spring for generating a pair of connector housings and the reaction force, the spring A pushing force is generated during the fitting operation due to the reaction force of (1), thereby preventing half-fitting. Here, these have a movable member as compared with the previous one, and release the spring reaction force when the fitting operation is completed.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional connector, a separate movable member is required to release the spring reaction force when the fitting operation is completed, so that the number of parts increases and the assembling time is required. There was a problem that. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a connector capable of releasing a spring reaction force upon completion of a fitting operation and having a simpler configuration.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of connectors having a push-back mechanism for pushing back each other in a half-fitted state by the elastic force of a push-back spring. The mechanism includes a push-back spring arranged and supported along the insertion direction of the other connector housing with respect to the one connector housing, and integrally formed with the other connector housing so as to face the push-back spring. A flexible arm having flexibility to advance and retreat toward the push-back spring and having a locking projection capable of being locked to the push-back spring; and the flexible arm and the one connector housing. The pair of connector housings are formed with guide slopes and guide protrusions. In tilting the flexible arm, during the fitting operation, the guide arm rides on the guide slope so that the locking arm is locked to the push-back spring by the flexible arm. It is tilted to the connector housing side, and when the fitting is completed, the guide projections move over the guide slope and retract so that the locking projections are separated from the push-back spring, and during the pull-out operation, the guide projections move under the guide slope. It is configured to include an engagement mechanism that allows the guide protrusion to forcibly ride on the guide slope regardless of the tilting state of the flexible arm at the time of passing through and starting the fitting.

Here, the relationship between the front and back of the guide projection and the guide slope is relative to each other due to the engagement relationship between the locking projection and the push-back spring. The front surface is always the upper surface and the back surface is the lower surface. Not something. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the first aspect, the guide slope is formed on the one connector housing, and the guide protrusion is formed on the flexible arm. The invention according to claim 3 is the connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one connector housing includes a hood portion into which the other connector housing can be inserted, and is provided on a peripheral wall of the hood portion. The push-back spring is supported, and the other connector housing is configured to be insertable into the hood portion and to support the flexible arm in the space while forming a space in a portion facing the push-back spring. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the guide projection passes under the guide slope during the pull-out operation, the fitting operation is performed. The flexible arm is bent more than it can be bent at the start of the operation.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a push-back spring is arranged and supported in one connector housing along the insertion direction of the other connector housing, and is supported by the other connector housing. Are integrally formed such that the flexible arm faces the push-back spring. The flexible arm has a flexibility capable of moving forward and backward toward the push-back spring, and includes a locking projection that can be locked to the push-back spring. A guide slope formed on the flexible arm and one of the connector housings The flexible arm is tilted in accordance with the engagement and withdrawal operations of the pair of connector housings by the engagement mechanism comprising the guide arm and the guide projection, and the locking projection of the flexible arm is locked by the push-back spring to generate a reaction force. Generate. That is, during the fitting operation, the flexible arm is tilted toward one of the connector housings so that the guide protrusion rides on the guide slope so that the locking protrusion is locked by the push-back spring. The projection is retracted so that the projection climbs over the guide slope and the locking projection separates from the push-back spring, the guide projection passes under the guide slope during the pull-out operation, and the fitting arm starts to engage regardless of the tilting state of the flexible arm. First, the guide projection is forced to ride on the guide slope.

The relationship between the front and back surfaces of the guide projection and the guide slope is not necessarily the upper surface and the lower surface is the lower surface, but is relative to the engagement relationship between the locking projection and the push-back spring. For example, even if the guide protrusion slides along the lower surface of the guide slope in the vertical relationship, the flexible arm is connected to one connector so that the locking protrusion is locked by the push-back spring. In the case of tilting toward the housing side, this is referred to as the guide projection riding on the guide slope.
In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, a guide projection is formed on the side of the flexible arm that is driven to bend, and a guide slope is formed on the mating connector housing that is stationary. Therefore, the compact flexible arm having only the protrusion is tilted and driven.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, a push-back spring is housed and supported on a peripheral wall of the hood portion while a hood portion is formed in one connector housing, and the other is provided. Of the connector housing can be inserted into the hood. In the other connector housing, a flexible arm is supported in the space while forming a space in a portion facing the push-back spring. Therefore, when the other connector housing is inserted into the hood of one connector housing,
A flexible arm in a space formed on the side of the other hood portion is brought into a predetermined inclined state by an engagement mechanism, and is locked or locked facing a push-back spring supported on a peripheral wall of the hood portion. It is released, pushed back by the reaction force of the push-back spring, or released.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, when the guide projection passes under the guide slope during the pull-out operation, it can be bent at the start of the fitting operation. The flexible arm is bent so that the guide projection cannot enter under the guide slope if the flexible arm is bent at the start of the fitting operation. The guide protrusion rides on the guide slope.

[0011]

As described above, the present invention does not require a separate movable member in addition to the connector housing and the push-back spring. And a connector capable of doing so. In addition, since the guide projection surely rides on the guide slope at the start of the fitting, it is possible to prevent the semi-fitting state without being sunk under the guide slope and receiving the reaction force of the push-back spring. .

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing the guide projection of the engagement mechanism on the side of the flexible arm, the flexible arm can be easily arranged without being bulky. Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a space facing the push-back spring is formed on the peripheral wall of the hood portion to accommodate the flexible arm, so that the flexible arm is accommodated in the depth direction. It can be less bulky. Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 4, the flexible arm is forcibly bent so as to be pulled out in a bent state that cannot be made at the time of starting fitting, and the guide projection is surely climbed on the guide slope at the time of starting fitting. Can be

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 hold a male terminal fitting and a female terminal fitting, respectively, and the female connector 20 is placed in a hood 11 formed in the male connector 10. As the tip is inserted, both terminal fittings are connected to each other, and both connectors 10 and 20 are fitted and connected. Also,
The male connector 10 houses a push-back spring 30,
A flexible arm 21 formed integrally with the female connector 20 comes into contact with the female connector 20 at the time of insertion and is compressed, and receives a push-back force by a reaction force.

In the present embodiment, the pair of matable connectors accommodate the male terminal fitting and the female terminal fitting, respectively, but they are electrically connected to each other when they are fitted and connected close to each other. As long as the connectors accommodate the terminal fittings, the connectors need not necessarily accommodate the male or female terminal fittings. Similarly, the push-back spring 30 is disposed on the side accommodating the male terminal fittings. Although the flexible arm 21 is provided on the side for accommodating the female terminal fittings, the reverse is also possible. Male connector 1
The ceiling side of the hood portion 11 formed at 0 has a spring accommodating chamber 12 for accommodating a push-back spring 30 bent in a zigzag manner. The spring accommodating chamber 12 includes a communication window 12a that opens narrower than the push-back spring 30 from the front side of the hood portion 11 toward the back side of the inner peripheral surface, and faces the rear surface of the male connector 10. And a wedge-shaped lock projection 12c which is capable of receiving the push-back spring 30 therein and which is capable of being pushed into the inner peripheral wall surface on the side of the storage opening 12b and capable of being locked irremovably. It has. That is, the rear accommodation port 12b
When the push-back spring 30 is inserted, the wedge-shaped lock projection 12c bends, so that the push-back spring 30 can get over it. When the rear end of the push-back spring 30 gets over the wedge-shaped lock projection 12c. The wedge-shaped lock projection 12c returns and locks so as not to come out backward.

In the present embodiment, the spring accommodating chamber 12 is formed on the ceiling side of the hood section 11, but may be formed on any peripheral wall surface. For convenience, a situation in which the spring accommodating chamber 12 is formed above the hood portion 11 will be described as an example, but there is no difference in basic operation even if this is on the bottom side. Further, a zigzag bent spring is used as the push-back spring 30, but when the female connector 20 housed in the hood 11 is inserted, it is pushed by the flexible arm 21 and compressed. Any other type of spring may be used, for example, a spring having another shape, such as a coil spring or a torsion spring, may be used. Further, in holding the push-back spring 30 so as not to come off, the wedge-shaped lock protrusion 12c may be used instead of using the wedge-shaped lock projection 12c, or may be held by another method such as closing with a lid.

In the hood portion 11, a pair of guide walls 13, 13 projecting from the ceiling surface to the inside of the hood portion 11 are formed so as to sandwich the communication window 12a, and the guide walls 13, 13 face each other. A pair of guide slopes 13a, 13a projecting so as to be substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the female connector 20 is formed on the side surface to be inserted.
On the other hand, the female connector 20 for accommodating the female terminal fitting is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, but a portion corresponding to the space between the guide walls 13 of the hood portion 11 of the male connector 10 is directed upward. It is a concave portion 22 that opens,
The flexible arm 21 is formed so as to protrude upward from the front end bottom surface of the concave portion 22 and then extend rearward. The flexible arm 21 is formed narrower than the space between the two guide walls 13, 13, and the communication window 12 a is formed on the rear end upper surface.
Locking projection 21a which can enter spring accommodation chamber 12 through
And wedge-shaped guide projections 21 on both sides.
b, 21b. The concave portion 22 continues to the rear end, and the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is a free end, so that the operator can push down when releasing the fitted state.

An engaging mechanism is constituted by guide slopes 13a, 13a formed on the guide walls 13, 13, and guide projections 21b, 21b formed on the side surface of the flexible arm 21. When the hood portion 11 opening side of the male connector 10 is set to the front, the guide slopes 13a, 13a are slopes in which the front side surface rises toward the rear side, and the rear side surface is substantially vertical. It is a wall, the upper surface is substantially horizontal, and the lower surface is an inclined surface that slightly descends toward the front side. On the other hand, the guide projections 21b, 21b have a cross-sectional shape in which when the side facing the hood portion 11 is set to the front, the front is sharpened and the thickness increases as it goes to the rear. When the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is pushed down, the guide projections 21b, 21b also move downward, but the female connector 20 faces the opening of the hood portion 11 of the male connector 10 regardless of this vertical movement. Sometimes the guide projection 21
The tips of b and 21b are located above the corners of the tips of the guide slopes 13a and 13a.

With this configuration, when the female connector 20 is inserted into the hood portion 11 of the male connector 10 from the state shown in FIG. 2, the guide protrusions 21b, 21b are formed as shown in FIG. In order to ride on the upper surfaces of the guide slopes 13a, 13a, the flexible arm 21 is tilted so as to raise the rear end. As a result, the locking projection 21a formed on the upper surface of the rear end enters the spring housing chamber 12 through the communication window 12a formed on the ceiling surface of the hood portion 11, and
It comes into contact with the front end of the push-back spring 30 housed inside. During the fitting operation, as shown in FIG.
As the connector is inserted into the hood 11, the push-back spring 30 is compressed, so that the female connector 20 receives a force to push back due to the reaction force. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide projections 21b, 21b get over the guide slopes 13a, 13a at the same time as the normal fitting state is reached, and the flexible arm 21 returns to the original horizontal state. Since the locking projection 21a also moves downward by this return operation, the locking with the push-back spring 30 is released, and while the reaction force of the spring is released, this time the guide projection 2a is released.
Since the rear end surfaces of the guide slopes 1b and 21b and the guide slopes 13a and 13a face each other, they come into contact with each other and cannot be pulled out.

On the other hand, the flexible arm 2
When the rear end of the guide projections 21b, 21b is pushed down, the upper corners of the rear ends of the guide projections 21b, 21b are pushed down below the lower corners of the rear ends of the guide slopes 13a, 13a, and the contact state between them is released. Is done. When the female connector 20 is pulled out in this state, as shown in FIG.
b passes through the guide slopes 13a, 13a along the lower surface thereof. At this time, the guide slope 13
Since the lower surfaces of the a and 13a are slightly inclined, the guide protrusions 21b and 21b are further pushed down while being pulled out, and the flexible arm 21 is bent in an arc shape such that the rear end is pressed against the bottom surface of the concave portion 22. Can be This bent state is a state that cannot be reproduced only by pushing down the rear end of the flexible arm 21. When the flexible arm 21 is further pulled out, the guide protrusions 21b, 21b pass through the lower surfaces of the guide slopes 13a, 13a, and the flexible arm 21 extends. 21 returns.

In this embodiment, the flexible arm 21
Guide protrusions 21b, 21b formed on the side surfaces of the flexible arm 21 and the guide wall 1 facing the flexible arm 21 so as to sandwich the flexible arm 21 therebetween.
An engaging mechanism is constituted by the guide slopes 13a, 13a formed on the third and the third 13 and tilts the flexible arm 21 facing the push-back spring arranged along the insertion direction as described above. Should be fine. Therefore,
The guide arm 13 may be formed on the side of the flexible arm 21 and the guide wall 13 may be formed on the side of the guide wall 13. In addition, a slit-shaped notch is formed in the flexible arm 21, and a similar inclined surface or projection is formed on the inner surface of the notch, and the guide wall 13 is formed in the notch on the male connector 10 side. Protrusions and inclined surfaces corresponding to the inclined surfaces and the projections facing each other on both sides may be formed while allowing entry. In these modified examples, the guide projections 21b,
21b may not physically climb on the upper surface of the guide slopes 13a, 13a, but may sink into the lower surface. Things.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the flexible arm 21 is pulled out due to the inclination of the lower surface side of the guide inclined surface 13a, the rear end is pressed against the bottom surface of the concave portion 22 to be bent in an arc shape, and the flexible arm 21 is bent. By pressing down the rear end of the flexible arm 21, the guide projections 21 b, 21 b are confronted with the guide slopes 13 a, even if the fitting is started while the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is pressed down. 13
a. However, the entire lower surface of the guide inclined surface 13a is not necessarily inclined, and even if only the lower surface of the front end is inclined slightly downward, the inclined surfaces are similarly brought into contact with each other so that the vehicle can be securely climbed. Can be.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When the female connector 20 is inserted into the hood 11 of the male connector 10 from the state shown in FIG. 2, guide protrusions 21b formed on both side surfaces of the flexible arm 21 are formed.
21b rides on the upper surfaces of the guide slopes 13a, 13a. At this time, even when the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is pushed down as shown in FIG. 3, the guide projections 21b, 21b surely ride on the upper surfaces of the guide slopes 13a, 13a, and the guide slopes There is no dive under 13a, 13a. As shown in FIG. 4, since the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is raised, the locking projection 21 a formed on the upper surface of the rear end is connected via the communication window 12 a formed on the ceiling surface of the hood 11. When the female connector 20 is inserted into the spring accommodating chamber 12 and the female connector 20 is further pushed into the male connector 10, as shown in FIG.
0 and compressed. Therefore, the female connector 20 receives a force to push it back due to the reaction force. If the female connector 20 is to be pushed in halfway, the female connector 20 is forced into the male connector 10 by the reaction force. Extruded from.

As shown in FIG. 6, the guide projections 21b and 21b are simultaneously brought into the regular fitting state, and the guide projections 21b and 21b are
13a, the flexible arm 21 returns to the original horizontal state, and the locking between the locking projection 21a and the push-back spring 30 is released to release the reaction force of the spring, and the guide projections 21b, 21b are released. And the guide slopes 13a, 13a are brought into contact with each other, and a locked state is established. To release the fitting state between the male connector 10 and the female connector 20, the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is pushed down and the female connector 20 is pulled out. When the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is pushed down, the contact between the guide projections 21b, 21b and the guide slopes 13a, 13a is released, and as shown in FIG.
b, 21b are sunk into the lower surfaces of the guide slopes 13a, 13a. When the female connector 20 is pulled out, the guide projections 21b, 21b are further pushed down on the lower surfaces of the guide slopes 13a, 13a, and the rear end of the flexible arm 21 is pressed against the bottom surface of the recess 22 to form an arc. When the flexible arm 21 is bent and pulled out, the guide projections 21b and 21b pass through the lower surfaces of the guide slopes 13a and 13a, and the flexible arm 21 returns.

As described above, when the pair of connectors in the half-fitted state are pushed back to each other, the guide slope 13a and the guide projection 21b of the engaging mechanism are provided with the locking projection 21a and can advance and retreat toward the push-back spring 30. The flexible arm 21 is tilted, and during the fitting operation, the locking projection 21a is locked by the push-back spring 30 so as to receive a reaction force. The reaction force is released, and the guide projection 21b is
Is pulled out under the guide slope 13a.
Also, at the start of fitting, regardless of the tilting state of the flexible arm 21, the guide protrusion 21b surely rides on the guide slope 13a, and the guide protrusion 21b does not sink under the guide slope 13a as in the case of pulling out. Since there is no,
It is not left in a half-fitted state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connector before a fitting operation is started.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector at the start of a fitting operation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the connector during a fitting operation.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the connector during a fitting operation.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connector at the time when the fitting operation is completed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector during a pull-out operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Male side connector 11 ... Hood part 12 ... Spring accommodating chamber 13 ... Guide wall 13a ... Guide slope 20 ... Female side connector 21 ... Flexible arm 21a ... Locking protrusion 21b ... Guide protrusion 30 ... Push-back spring

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kensaku Takada 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi Harness Research Institute, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-55-166881 (JP, A) 99381 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/639-13/645

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of connectors provided with a push-back mechanism that pushes each other back in a half-fitted state by the elastic force of a push-back spring, wherein the push-back mechanism is inserted into one connector housing along the insertion direction of the other connector housing. A push-back spring that is arranged and supported, and is formed integrally with the other connector housing so as to face the push-back spring, and has the flexibility to advance and retreat toward the push-back spring and the push-back. A flexible arm having a locking projection that can be locked to a spring; a guide slope formed on the flexible arm and the one connector housing; and a guide projection, wherein the pair of connector housings are fitted. In order to tilt the flexible arm by engaging with each other in accordance with the pull-out operation, the guide is required during the fitting operation. The flexible arm is tilted to the one connector housing side so that the protrusion rises on the guide slope and the locking protrusion is locked to the push-back spring. The locking projection is retracted so as to disengage from the push-back spring over the slope, the guide projection passes under the guide slope during the pull-out operation, and the flexible arm tilts at the start of fitting. A connector having an engagement mechanism for forcing the guide projection to ride on the guide slope regardless of the state. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the guide slope is formed on the one connector housing, and the guide protrusion is formed on the flexible arm. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the one connector housing includes a hood portion into which the other connector housing can be inserted, and the push-back spring is provided on a peripheral wall of the hood portion. A connector, wherein the other connector housing is insertable into the hood portion and supports the flexible arm in the space while forming a space in a portion facing the push-back spring. 4. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, when the guide projections in the withdrawal operation slip through under the guide inclined surfaces, deflect it at the start of the fitting operation A connector characterized by flexing a flexible arm more than is possible.